Production of Coal Bed Methane (CBM): Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (2015-16)
The Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (2015-16) present this Fourteenth Report on 'Production of Coal Bed Methane (CBM)'. Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is natural gas found in coal seams and is mainly composed of Methane (CH4) with minor amounts of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and heavier hydrocarbons like ethane. During earlier years of coal mining activity, this gas was wasted and vented into the atmosphere resulting in greenhouse emissions. It is also a serious safety hazard during coal mining operations. At the same time, it is a precious energy resource and is regarded as an unconventional form of natural gas. Due to rising energy requirements and being a clean source of energy, CBM has become an important energy resource of global significance over the last few decades with the emergence of active CBM players in countries like Canada, Australia, China and India.